Survey reveals life’s most awkward moments

Survey reveals life’s most awkward moments

Jack Peat

Published:4:05 pmFebruary 12, 2019

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Accidentally ending a work call with ‘I love you’, complaining about someone when they’re right behind you and getting on the wrong train have emerged among a list of life’s most awkward moments, according to research.

A poll of 2,000 adults found more than eight in 10 have experienced a ‘FML’ moment – with waving back at someone only to discover they were waving at someone behind you the most common.

Other awkward moments include misjudging the weather and ending up in a thick jumper on a hot day, dropping your phone into the toilet and texting the person you were gossiping about by accident.

Stalking someone’s social media profile but accidentally liking a post from years ago and replying all instead of just to one person on an email also featured on the list.

But the study, by haircare brand, Aussie, found that while a cool 43 per cent would ride out the awkward moment, more than one in 10 would head to the nearest loos to take some time out and have a pep talk with pals.

A spokesperson for haircare brand, Aussie, which commissioned the research as part of its #GreatHairThough campaign said: “We’ve all been there when you just want the ground to swallow you up (or retreat to Oz down under) when things haven’t gone to plan.”

“We can’t always fix our messy lives, but we can make sure hair is looking on point, because life doesn’t always go to plan.

Other FML moments to appear in the list include; leaving tags on new clothes when wearing them for the first time and forgetting a friend’s birthday.

Falling asleep on a stranger’s shoulder on public transport, singing your heart out in the car and being spotted by other drivers and getting stuck in an item of clothing you are trying on in a changing room.

Researchers also found younger Brits take the lead when it comes to awkward moments with almost half of millennials having an ‘FML’ moment at least once a week compared to just over one in 10 of over 55s.

And one in five 18-34-year-olds have got off a train or bus at a different stop to the one they needed to avoid having to face people.

One in six respondents, polled via OnePoll, have even instantly bonded with a stranger on a night out after sharing a disastrous moment.

With data revealing that more than one in 10 would head to the toilets after an FML moment, Aussie is installing ‘loos’ at Waterloo train station in London to allow commuters to recover from their daily disasters.

The installation will enable people to enjoy a hair styling session with stylists who will also lend a sympathetic ear to their troubles.

LGBTQ+ collective Sink The Pink will perform, as the ultimate antidote to feeling down.

The #GreatHairThough loos will travel on from London Waterloo Station to Glasgow Central Station on 20th February and Manchester Piccadilly on 28th February.

* Aussie are partnering with viral meme creator Queen of Everything so Londoners can turn their FML moment into a meme which will be transmitted onto Waterloo’s digital billboards.

BRITAIN’S MOST COMMON ‘FML MOMENTS’

1. Returning a wave only to realise they were waving at someone else
2. Forgetting my friend’s birthday/anniversary
3. Misjudging the weather and wearing a jumper on the hottest day of the year
4. Forgetting to put a phone on charge overnight and so the alarm doesn’t go off
5. Spilling coffee on a fresh white shirt first thing in the morning
6. Umbrella turning inside out in heavy rain
7. Dropping a phone into the toilet
8. Forgetting headphones before a long journey
9. Someone pointing out a tag left on new clothes
10. Leaving the house in a rush and spending the whole day wondering if hair straighteners were switched off
11. Opening a handbag and the entire contents falling out
12. Telling a hairdresser you only wanted a trim but ending up leaving four inches shorter
13. Losing balance on the tube/train and landed in a stranger’s lap
14. Sleeping through an alarm and stacked it whilst running for the bus
15. Falling asleep on the tube/ train/ bus, and ending up leaning on someone’s shoulder
16. Sending a personal email to a colleague by mistake
17. Being deep into an Instagram stalk and accidentally hitting ‘like’ on a photo from 2016
18. Accidentally mentioning something to a person, then realising they hadn’t told you – but that you had actually found out through ‘stalking’ their social media channels
19. Replying all/texting the person you were gossiping about
20. Spilling food on your clothes before a job interview
21. Keys falling out of a pocket into the toilet
22. Being out and bumped into someone I cancelled plans with
23. Purchasing dream heels and then spending the whole night out regretting it
24. Rushing for a train, making it, but then realising it’s the wrong one and you’re now off to ‘Scotland’
25. Accidentally ending a work call with ‘love you’
26. Singing your heart out whilst driving alone on the motorway, only to realise a coach full of people next to you were enjoying your full, ‘live’ performance
27. Dropping a phone face down on the tube and watching everyone wait with bated breath to see if it’s smashed
28. Getting stuck in a dress in a changing room and having to text friends to help you get out
29. Forgetting to plug in headphones and playing Britney out loud on the bus
30. Pocket dialling someone and talking about them to someone else
31. Accidentally calling your boss ‘mum’ or ‘dad’
32. Spending hours fake-tanning and forgetting to wash your hands
33. Forgetting a change of clothes and having to wear gym clothes at work
34. Finding a dream dress/outfit but leaving your debit card at home
35. Being locked out of the flat when a flatmate, who had the other only key, was on a two-week holiday
36. Turning up at a friend’s wedding and spotting the same dress on three other people
37. Having lipstick on your teeth while on a long-awaited first date
38. Applied lipstick in the car without a mirror and giving yourself an ‘extra set of lips’
39. Pulling out my new bikini on holiday and realising you’ve left the bottoms at home
40. Complaining about a workmate only to realise they were standing behind you